Automatically Permitting Usage of MediSave Savings of Persons without Mental Capacity
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the Government would automatically permit the usage of MediSave savings for the medical expenses of persons without mental capacity who cannot communicate consent. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong explained that while authorization is a safeguard, existing measures allow for lifetime authorization while mentally well or authorization by donees and court-appointed deputies. If no donee or deputy exists, family members can apply to authorize withdrawals on the patient's behalf. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong stated that the Government will study the suggestion as part of a continuous review to assist mentally incapacitated patients. This review will balance the need for easier access with necessary safeguards to protect the interests and well-being of the patients involved.
Transcript
52 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Health whether the Government will consider automatically permitting the usage of the MediSave savings of a person without mental capacity for his own MediSave-approved medical expenses even though the person is unable to communicate his consent for such usage.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: I thank Ms Sylvia Lim for her suggestion. As a general principle, a patient's authorisation is required for the use of his MediSave. This is a safeguard to protect the patient. However, the Government understands that patients who have lost their mental capacity face many difficult challenges, and we have implemented measures over the years to help these patients and their families, including simplifying the process for authorising MediSave withdrawals.
One initiative is to allow a patient to give lifetime authorisation for MediSave withdrawals while he is still mentally well. This arrangement will remain valid even if the patient were to subsequently lose his mental capacity.
For a patient who is already mentally incapacitated, a donee acting under a Lasting Power of Attorney or a deputy appointed by the Court under the Mental Capacity Act may authorise the use of the patient's MediSave. If there is no donee or deputy appointed, individuals related to the patient, such as the patient’s family members, can apply to authorise the withdrawal on the patient's behalf.
We will study Ms Lim's suggestion, together with feedback from other stakeholders, as part of our continuous review on ways to assist patients who have lost their mental capacity, while providing the necessary safeguards to protect patients' interests and well-being.